Please help- a DVT/pregnancy/childbirth question with how can I try and have a positive birth experience

[pootlepod]

Long story- but hope there might be some advice.

I am almost 37 weeks with no.2. First pregnancy fairly easy, no major problems, reasonable labour with ventouse delivery at end due to me being knackered basically.

I am in a different area this time though and I'm finding the care (for exactly the same conditions) a little overwhelming. I take thyroxine, so my thyroid levels have been monitored with no change throughout (as with dd1) and I've had a couple of extra scans to check for growth- again, fine and dandy.

But, the hospital I'm at now have picked up on a possible DVT marker. The reason they looked for possible DVT complictaions is because my mum had 2 heart attacks and a resulting DVT 6 years agao, due to lifestyle- 30yrs+smoker, no exercise etc. I have a very different lifestyle to her and whist I understand it can be hereditary, have had no problems so far.

However, today at my last hospital visit, when I heard that things were progessing well and nothing untoward had happened during my pregnancy I asked the doctor if I could at least start with a midwife led birth rather than a consultant led birth- and hopefully have a chance of getting a pool room etc. She didn't see it would be a problem but when she checked with the consultant, they highlighted this possible marker.

The DVT test was done when I was 5 months pregnant and I was told at the following hospital visit everything was fine, but to keep an eye out for possible DVT symptoms. However, today it appears that they 'forgot' to tell me about this marker, but I feel they are using it as an excuse to keep me under consultant care. After a quick bit of research on it (it is called protein-s something), it appears that it's quite normal for levels to dip in pregnancy and for the risk of a DVT to be really real there needs to be other markers as well. Also, they are going to check it again at 12 weeks post birth, so I feel if there really was a serious risk, they would be monitoring it a lot more closely.

Has anyone else got experience with this or know something about it?

The doctor suggested today that I will have to have continous monitoring from when I go into hospital- something I am not looking forward too and had hoped to avoid. Obviously I want my baby to be fine, and me too and I take seriously any medical advice, but I really feel I'm being a bit fobbed off here. The doctor suggested today that I could speak to the doctor in charge of the labour ward when the big day arrives but I can't help feeling that it will be too late by then- I do understand that they have to cover their backs and I feel a doctor that hasn't had knowledge about how the pregnancy has gone won't be willing to change the care at that point. She wrote a note on my records to say I had discussed this today- but I don't think that will hold any weight, in fact I am worried it's pointed me out to be a 'trouble maker' for the staff on the labour ward.

Sorry for the ramblings but I am in a bit of a state about it. It doesn't help that some members of my family don't see my point of view at all (i.e. my dad, MIL). To them, it's marvellous that all this intervention 'helps'. I also have 4 sisters, all of whom have been pregnant in a number of areas in the country and they have not had any extra DVT tests- another reason to why I think it's intervention gone mad.

Pootlepod, i'm not sure i can help, but i have lots of DVT monitering but thats becuase i have a long history of Pulmonary Embolisms on my lungs especially when pg.

pootlepod - I cannot understand the rationale for continuous monitoring because you possible might be at risk of developing a DVT. If anything, continuous monitoring will restrict your mobility which in turn can lead to DVT. I can see no reason why you should not have a midwife led birth. The pool would be ideal for mobility.

Is there a consultant midwife at your hospital? You could ask to speak to her about it.

It is your right to chose the type of birth you want which means you can reject her plan and have a midwife led birth if you want.

Thanks charley for sharing your experience- did you find that the DVT stuff changed your birth in any way. I think the major difference as you pointe dout is that I have had no previous history of blood problems.

Mears, how do I go about seeing the consultant midwife? (The hospital is Derby BTW) I hadn't thought about your point on maintaining mobility for preventing DVT- will make sure that's mentioned in my birth plan.

They have said that the birth will most likely be midwife led anyway, but in rooms where the consultants can visit- there will be no pool rooms for this. It makes me laugh because the midwife led rooms (i.e. pool rooms and more home like rooms) are on the same corridor as the consultant led rooms.

I had loads of monitoring throughout my pg because of a history of hundreds of clots; I have a clotting disorder (although it's not protein-s). Because of it I had to inject myself twice a day throughout the pregnancy, and wasn't allowed to give birth in the local community hospital.

However, as you have no previous history of anything like that, and you've got this far through your 2nd pg without any related issues, I'm surprised they're being quite so cautious. Presumably, as you say, they're covering their backs. I can understand them wanting to monitor you, but I think you need them to give you more info/definite evidence etc on this. Can you not see if they will give you clearer evidence of the risks etc?

(If there is a genuine high risk of complications, then being under a consultant isn't a bad thing - for the sake of both you and your baby.)

Good luck!

You will get good advice from this forum . There are many wise woman and midwifes who will help or if they cant they maybe able to point you in the right direction.

Would second getting further information about why exactly you need all this constant monitoring.
Actually had dvt with first pg but gave birth in mid-wife led unit of the hospital and the birth itself was really great. In theory if I'd needed to I could have been transferred to the medical version of the same unit at the drop of a hat (2 units located next to each other). So don't understand the restrictions on you tbh (I have 2 markers plus history of dvts).
Am pg again and having to do the whole jab thing again. My consultant said that she assumed I'd want to give birth in the hospital given my history - risk of haemorrage which I'm not that convinced about - , but that's the only limitation and I hope it'll go pretty much the same as before.
Hope you get some answers.